CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED NINE - The Price of Victory Revealed

Lucas Montgomery stood at the edge of the terrace, his eyes fixed on the horizon as the sun dipped low, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. Behind him, the sound of laughter drew his attention back to the present moment. "Daddy, look!" Sophia, his two-year-old daughter, squealed with delight as she toddled across the terrace, her chubby hands waving a colorful pinwheel. Ella, her hair tied back in a loose ponytail, crouched next to Sophia, steadying her with a gentle hand. "That's right, sweetie. Show Daddy how it spins!" Lucas turned, a smile spreading across his face. "Well, would you look at that? My little engineer in the making." He walked over and scooped Sophia up, eliciting a burst of giggles from the toddler. Ella stood, brushing off her knees. "I think someone's ready for dinner," Ella said, tickling Sophia's tummy. "Da-da, down!" Sophia insisted, squirming in Lucas's arms. As Lucas set her down, the loud rumble of a motorcycle engine cut through the peaceful